Save historical landmarks

Voice of the People

I have never seen government, state and local, so hell-bent on razing so many historical sights. I thought that once they were declared historical these sites could not be torn down, but restored. The last building marking Camp Cody is no longer. It was the only building marking where Camp Cody stood.

Many relatives of family members that served there returned to Deming to visit what was left. It was erased - wiped of the map. Is there even a bronze roadside marker declaring it's site? Do our government officials have any insight to the factors these historical sights played in the growth of our nation? I suppose many have never even heard of Camp Cody. Now all that remains are photographs.

Much of the history in this area of New Mexico played a great part in the creation of our nation. Compared to a lot of the United States, the history here is young, but so significant to the growth of our nation.

Fort Bayard played a major role in New Mexico's history and that of the United States. How can designated historical sight be torn down? If our government went around tearing down all the historical sights in New Mexico there would be no Sante Fe, no Old Mesilla, Deming, Columbus - and the list goes on.

If the boiler isn't being utilized to keep the heat on in the hospital, the New Deal Theatre and other buildings, where is that $34,000 going? Certainly not to maintain the buildings or to clean the garbage out of the buildings.

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It is the fault of the New Mexico government that Fort Bayard is in this condition.

I think Rudy Martinez wanted to anger his constituents by reminding them of the $45,000-a-month it was costing them to maintain Fort Bayard.

Perhaps he could get the backing from the taxpayers to tear it down by reminding them the cost of it remaining.

That 468 acres is prime realstate for a developer. Perhaps the state could even recoup all the taxpayers money they've been receiving of which we will never see.

Imagine, Fort Bayard Estates: Tax collecting on 468-acre lots is a lot more profitable than taking care of our veterans. After all, one more bronze roadside plaque of the history that once was there shouldn't cost too much. No maintenance is needed on a metal placard. Mr. Martinez, what happened with your concern for our veterans besides eviction in 2010? What happened to the great idea of giving our vets a place closer to home to receive their well deserved healthcare and benefits? Mr. Martinez, there is so much government waste in NM how can one keep up with it all?

Maybe our politicians need to take a refresher course in our state's history especially the importance Southwestern New Mexico played. Perhaps they might even want to take a road trip to our area of the state. Rumor has it some don't even know where Deming is. Thankfully, parts of Camp Furlong still stand in Columbus and the history remains. If they can't find Deming then I'm sure Columbus is a mystery. That might be the reason Camp Furlong still remains.

New Mexico's government touts it's need for increased tourism. If left to our politician's, the historical sites in this part of NM that played such a large part in our country's history are going to be forgotten history. I suppose another bronze roadside placard won't cost too much. The only tourism we will eventually have in Southwestern New Mexico are people exiting I-10 to replenish their necessities at Walmart.

All these historical sites can't be that historical if a politician's whim can threaten to tear them down.